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Bombersā Ridley ready for Dogsā challenge
Justin Chadwick ā¢ AAP
Sunday, 29 August 2021 3:32 am AEST
Essendon defender Jordan Ridley knows heāll need all the help he can get if heās given the daunting assignment of manning Western Bulldogs star Aaron Naughton again.
Ridley restricted Naughton to 1.3 and 11 disposals when the Bombers upset the Bulldogs by 13 points in round 21.
The match sparked the start of a three-match losing run from the Bulldogs, whose late-season fadeout saw them slip to fifth.
The loss of the double finals chance means the Bulldogs wonāt have any wriggle room when they take on the Bombers in an elimination final in Launceston on Sunday.
Naughton has built a reputation for being one of the best contested markers in the league, with his ability to soar over packs becoming a key attribute.
āHeās a super player. I really do love watching him play - the way he runs and jumps and launches at the ball,ā Ridley told AAP.
"For our whole team really itās something to be aware of and something to try to negate if he is trying to get those run and jumps at the ball. Hopefully we can stop that part of his game.
"Itās an element of being aware of where they are and what they want to do. But at the same time you have to back yourself in to play your own game and have your own read of the ball as well.
āThereāll be times in the game that whoever is matched up on him will need help, and weāll need teammates to be in the right positions to cut off his lanes.ā
The loss of Josh Bruce to a season-ending knee injury means the Bulldogs will rely even more heavily on Naughton to help them kick a winning score.
Naughton has kicked 40.38 from 21 games this season.
His inaccuracy has been a big talking point all year, but his mesmerising marking ability often sets tongues wagging.
Arguably his most memorable performance came in the round 12 win over Fremantle, when he sprayed 1.5 in front of goal but pulled down 13 marks, with five of them contested.
Iām so nervous I could vomit.
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If there was a dislike button, this post will be getting one 
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LETāS FARKING GO!!!
Letās do this
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Please donāt. in the nicest possible way.
We have an EF to win
No more weather reports please. Itās going to rain. No doubt about it.
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Hi everyone. This could be a Truck and co next level surprise. We are the underdogs no doubt, but Iām hoping they have nutted and strategized the ā ā ā ā out of their game and we come out and the players execute it to a tee, and we send shivers through the footy world. Go Bombers! And the new age begins!!
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Please let this be the one. Please
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how have we played in the wet this year?
did we get smashed by brisbane?
Need to watch out for the opposing mid with the shortest legs in footy. Liberatore. He will be key at stoppages in the wet. Can our small mids, Parish, Zerret and McGrath beat him?
Nice.
Itās a big reason why you love this team. They will keep at it.
Letās go!!!
My mate is our head chef and a Brisbane nutter. I have threatened him for the last month that we will make finals and play them kicking them out of the finals. If it was to happen he has promised he would leave and for good reason. I would be unmerciful and he knows it! My supercoach team in his comp was āJoeāsGroinGoesTwangā
I think the red and black one.
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I was thinking the black and red one.
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